ii8 THE OX AND ITS KINDRED 
ancient breed. This horned breed has, however, 
itself been largely altered by crossing, but still 
survives in the island of Gothland. 
In Norway, according to Professor Isaachsen, 
several breeds are known to have been in existence 
at the end of the sixteenth century. In the western 
and south-western districts, for instance, the cattle 
are either horned or polled — apparently in about 
equal numbers — and vary in colour from black to 
grey, red, or dun, being in some cases whole-coloured, 
but in others marked with white patches or spots. 
In the south-eastern districts, on the other hand, the 
indigenous cattle are invariably polled and red. An- 
other type occurs in the eastern valleys of Esterdalen 
and Gudbrandsdalen, where the colour is generally 
black or dun, although in some cases red, w^hile horns 
are developed in the great majority. The western 
breed is believed to be very ancient. Passing from 
Scandinavia to the Low Countries, a well-known and 
characteristic breed is the one commonly bearing the 
name of Dutch cattle, although termed in America 
the Holstein-Friesian, the latter title referring to the 
fact that while the head-quarters of the breed is in 
the Dutch province of Friesland, it is represented 
in the German province of Holstein. In general 
appearance and colouring these cattle seem to present 
a considerable resemblance to the old black-and- 
white Ayrshire breed, with w^hich they also agree in 
being mainly reared for dairy purposes. Years ago 
Dutch cattle were regarded by Dr. Fitzinger as the 
direct descendants of the aurochs : and this opinion 
is supported not only by the great antiquity of the 
breed, but likewise by the frequent presence of a 
white line along the middle of the back, and the 
